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A fountain at Old Mill Square was turned on for the first time on Thursday, June 25. (REPORTER PHOTOS/KEITH MCCOY)

FILE

COLUMBIANA – A vintage three-tiered Italian fountain made its debut in Columbiana on Thursday, June 25.

A ceremony was held at the site at Old Mill Square, with residents and officials attending to see water flow through the fountain for the first time.

The fountain originated in the 1800s in Milan, Italy, Columbiana Mayor Stancil Handley said.

Handley wanted a centerpiece for Old Mill Square, which also houses the new Shelby County Arts Center.

“We want this to become the new town square for the city of Columbiana,” Handley said.

An antiques dealer in Roswell, Georgia, helped connect Handley with the fountain—which was purchased for far less than the anticipated amount.

Within an hour of reaching out to the dealer, Bob Brown of Red Baron Antiques, Brown sent a photo of the fountain asking if that was what Handley had in mind.

Cox Pools and others helped install the fountain, which Handley called “almost an impossible task.”

“It looks like it belongs here,” Handley said. “It looks like it has always been here.”

The fountain has 12 water features, with mythological dolphins and cherubs.

It is the largest three-tiered fountain with sculptures in Alabama.

Handley tossed an Italian lira coin into the fountain, and the water was turned on for the first time.

“When its lit up at night, it’s absolutely gorgeous,” he said.

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